Thread: Found a use for my 4/8

One of the first razors I honed and shaved with , a dainty little 4/8 C.V. Helgestrand , had been set aside because I had found it too light for my liking . I started using it again to shave my upper and lower lip , and found it worked very well . Then about 2 shaves ago I decided to use it for my second and third pass . I found it to be exceptional , and will be using it every shave from now on , although I don't use it for the first pass . Has anyone else tried this ?

I have a couple of 4/8 razors that I use for the entire shave. They are exceptional shavers. Tis all a matter of what you like best. I have heard of some guys using a 3/8 razor for the upper lip with great success.

Have fun,

Lynn

I've tried switching razors, using a Feather for the first pass and a regular straight for the second. The Feather takes off most of the stubble, and the straight cleans up the rest without the harshness of the Feather.

I do like a good 4/8, though. They are super maneuverable... I've sold a few that I miss.

Josh

I use a 4/8 for a full shave when I shaved the day before. Nice razors and great shaves.

Now I'm starting to wonder ??? Is the 4/8 razor underrated ? I think I'll try my next shave with only the 4/8 . Now I can't wait to finish making the scales for my 4/8 Frederick Reynolds frameback style razor , so I can see how it shaves .

I do think the 4/8 is underrated. They do have to be honed properly, though, because they don't have the advantages of extra weight to muscle through the stubble.

Josh

I have a very lightweight full hollow 4/8 Frederick Reynolds that's a breeze to hone. I haven't used it much lately (though I will tomorrow) and it tugs a little more than heavier razors on my beard, but it leaves my face feeling glass-smooth.

My 9/16" Dubl Duck Special No. 1 is an absolutely marvelous
shaver, feels every bit as good as my larger razors. It has a
bit of a stiffer feel, and I like that!

- Scott

I'm with Lynn and Josh on this one.. Some of my best shavers are in the under 5/8 range, including the marathon-running Wapi that I have been using for the last month and my #2 shaver Genco Grant (which is a great honor). They go for the entire shave whether it's a 2, 2.5 or a 3 pass shave.

I have a nice little 4/8 Josh sent me. It worked quite well, until I left it in the bathroom and my brothers used it to slice a few sheets of paper. They thought I would never notice; next time I tried to shave with it, it was DULL. not hair tugging dull, mind you, butter knife dull. I find myself tending to agree that the light blade requires more finesse in honing; I have sharpened it enough so it will shave, but not well enough that I would shave with it given another option. I'm working on it, though. Every time I touch up my 5/8 Dovo I work on the 4/8, too. I can keep the 5/8 sharp enough for daily use, but my skill with the 4/8 is not yet up to par.

- Michael